Woe on Unrepentant Towns

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” – Matthew 11: 20-24

Yesterday, we learned that our approach to Jesus can be done in confidence knowing that he will always receive us. Today, we see a different side of Jesus. Jesus spent most of His ministry walking different regions of Israel, preaching the good news and healing many. His fame had grown tremendously. On several occasions the crowd was so large Jesus had to preach from a boat.

I can’t help but be reminded of other places great preachers have preached to accompany the masses. Billy Graham used stadiums. George Whitfield was the first to use open fields. The revivals of the 20th century used tents. There is power when we begin to see the masses that Christ’s gospel can share.

I often don’t think about the people who left Jesus’ healings and sermons. I just kinda assume they all followed Him. Matthew 11 reminds us that listen to a good sermon or witnessing a miracle is not enough. The traveler’s who saw Jesus perform miracles and heard his teachings probably left convinced that this Jesus guy was legitimately from God. But notice how this passage says “because they did not repent.” Jesus was not okay with just being encouraged. He expected repentance.

Repentance is simple. The word simply means to turn from sin and turn to God. Jesus expects action. He expects you to approach God. There is that word again, “approach.” Let us all pray that we do not become like the early hearers of Jesus. Let us pray that we hear Jesus and turn from our ways towards him. Let us do this remembering that if we do, Jesus will accept us. He loves us, but he does require us to choose him more than Sunday mornings.